SEX EDUCATION

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2335, 29 September 1921, Page 3

SEX EDUCATION

A STERLING TALK TO BOYS

’ The “Chronicle” publishes a very interesting address delivered by Dr. J. Graham Gow at Levin, on the subject of “sex education,” to fathers and sons. In the course of his address to the boys, the doctor said the greatest need for our Empire today is for clean, healthy, strong men —the sort of men who can play a strenuous game, such as that game of Rugby in the test match recently, and who will be going strong right up to the call of time —men who can give and take hard knocks and come up smiling, men who can control their tempers in the heat of the game, and men who can win without boasting and lose with a good grace. In fact, we want men of clean healthy minds, in clean healthy bodies. Now, you all want to be such men. You want to be such men as Dad and Mother will take a pride in. Well, you have got to start training now. The man who is physically and morally the right sort is the one who, while a boy, re - cognises that hiS body and mind arc a trust given him to keep clean, tit and healthy, so that a real man results; who knows that each part of his body has a certain duty or function to perform, and that this -function must not be abused. While you are boys you may use your muscles as 1 much as you like, for this will strengthen the muscles and keep you fit. and well. You all know that a boy can ill-use his stomach a good deal, and that the stomach of a hoy can stand a good deal of misuse. Sometimes, indeed, the stomach rebels, and makes itself felt in the shape of a stomach ache, hut in most cases no permanent damage is done. There -are other organs or parts of the body, however, those which are called the sex organs, which must not be abused, and which you must keep as a sacred trust until the time comes for you to marry and have children of your own. Now, hoys, I want to impress this on you most earnestly. Any interference with this delicate part of your bodies will affect your whole health in such a way as to spoil your whole lives, and you must remember this always if you want to be a real man and to do your bit in the game of life. And one thing more, hoys. When you have doubts or .questions about these matters, take your questions to Dad, and ask his advice. Don’t talk to other hoys about it, and don’t listen to dirty talk of hoys who are so unfortunate as not to realise that this is a. subject which can only he decently talked about- between fathers and sons, If you will do this, then you will not he found wanting when your country has need of strong fit men to carry on its work or to tight its battles.